A heart-wrenching case of rabies has emerged from Kannur, Kerala, where a five-year-old boy named Harith lost his life after being viciously bitten by a stray dog. The bite, inflicted near his eye and face, was so deep that stitches had to be placed even on his eyelid.
Medical experts warn that when a bite occurs on the face, neck, or head—areas dense with nerves—the rabies virus can swiftly reach the brain. Harith had received three doses of the anti-rabies vaccine, with the final one scheduled just a day after his condition worsened. Unfortunately, it is believed the virus had already entered his nervous system by then, rendering the upcoming dose ineffective.
Rabies is a deadly virus that crawls through the nervous pathways toward the brain. Once it reaches the brain, the disease progresses rapidly, and treatment becomes futile. Vaccines are thus given early to prevent the virus from taking hold—but their success hinges on timing and wound severity.
The facial area is particularly vulnerable due to its rich nerve supply. In such cases, the virus travels much faster than usual. While it typically takes up to two months to reach the brain, nerve-dense regions like the face or hands can drastically cut this period, limiting the vaccine’s protective window.
Health professionals emphasize that immediate wound washing is critical. Scrubbing the bite site under running water with soap for at least 15 minutes can deactivate much of the virus and lower infection risk by 80%.